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Long-range surveillance (LRS) teams (pronounced "lurse") were elite, specially-trainedsurveillance units of theUnited States Army employed forclandestine operation byMilitary Intelligence for gathering direct human intelligence information deep within enemy territory. Classic LRS employment is to infiltrate deep into enemy territory, construct hide and surveillance sites, and provide continuoussurveillance/special reconnaissance of an intelligence target of key interest.
LRS teams allow 24-hoursurveillance and analysis coverage unlikeunmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), mannedaircraft, and mostsatellites. Assuming there is no mission compromise, these teams typically remain in position for up to six days, as determined by the availability of food and water.[1]
As a result of an evaluation conducted using computer-modelling[2] the U.S. Army's senior leadership made the decision to deactivate all active-duty and National Guard LRS units. By the end of January 2017 the three active-duty LRS companies had ceased to exist, with its personnel being reassigned to other units.[3] The seven National Guard LRS units followed suit in 2018.[4]
Long Range Surveillance Units (LRSU) have four primary missions and five secondary missions as per Field Manual 3-55.93 Long Range Surveillance Unit Operations.[5] The four primary missions aresurveillance,zone and area reconnaissance,target acquisition, and targetinterdiction. Combat assessment/battle damage assessment is mentioned as not a standalone LRSU mission but inherent to all LRSUs. The five secondary missions are able to be completed if given the proper training and time to coordinate. The secondary missions include routereconnaissance, emplacement and recovery ofsensors, pathfinder operations, personnel recovery and combat search and rescue, and chemical detection and radiological surveillance and monitoring operations.
LRS operations are characterized by the following:
LRS units (LRSU) wereinfantry company-size elements that are assets within abattlefield surveillance brigade'sreconnaissance and surveillance squadron (R&S squadron) designated as US Armycavalry but were functionally airborne infantry units. The LRSU was structured as an LRS company comprising three LRS detachments, a communicationsplatoon, and a troop headquarters. Within the LRS company, the LRS detachments typically have designated specialties. Typically, there were three teams, also known as "DETs." 1st DET typically specializes in mountainous terrain/warfare. 2nd DET specialized inairborne operations. 3rd DET was the dive detachment, specializing in water-borne operations such as scuba diving and infiltrating harbors and ports as well as employing the Zodiac.LRS detachments were organized as five unsupportedLRS teams.
As withLRRP units of the past each US Army LRS team was composed of six soldiers:
All positions can be held by (E-1 up) to fill positions (upon meeting unit requirements)
From 2006 to 2015,United States Army long-range surveillance units were reorganized into newly formedbattlefield surveillance brigades (BfSBs). Thesebrigades contained a brigadeheadquarters and headquarters company (HHC), twoMilitary Intelligence (MI)battalions, and areconnaissance and surveillance (R&S)squadron.
The BfSB’s R&S squadron was composed of one LRS unit (i.e., Company C), which contains 15 LRS teams. Additionally, the R&S squadron also had two cavalrytroops (each containing twoplatoons) that conducted basic mounted and dismounted operations, and a headquarters and headquarters troop (HHT).
For a standard six-soldier LRS team, the primary method of insertion/infiltration behind enemy lines was at night by helicopter (night-time heliborne), while secondary methods included airborne and waterborne operations. In recent low-intensity conflicts, additional covert methods were added to enable enhanced operational capabilities.
Although both are types of units in theUnited States Army, LRS units were not the same asRSTA units.
During the Army-wide transfer tobrigade combat teams (BCTs), all combat divisions and separate brigades have transitioned to RSTA units. RSTA units have added light vehicle support in the form ofHumvees (HMMWVs) andM3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicles (CFVs), due to being commissioned as Cavalry. RSTA squadrons also feature a company-sized dismounted reconnaissance troop, typically composed of infantry scouts, which conducts dismounted reconnaissance and surveillance operations.
LRS units, in contrast, did not utilize a larger vehicle support element. Most RSTA units are not Airborne-capable, whereas most LRS units were. Exceptions typically include the RSTA squadrons of airborne infantry BCTs, such as the2nd BCT (Airborne),11th Airborne Division; the173rd Airborne BCT; and the four RSTA units in the82nd Airborne Division).
LRS soldiers typically carried weapons that include the following:M4 carbine,M9 pistol,M249 squad automatic weapon (SAW/LMG),M203 grenade launcher, as well as mission-specific gear, including (but not limited to), optics, A/V recording devices, secure communications gear, etc.
LRS leaders typically graduated from theUnited States Army Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course (see link and course list below).
LRS soldiers were often graduates of other specialized military courses and training, including:
United States Army LRSUs have conducted training exercises and exchange programs with various U.S. allies. These exercises included deployments to England, Germany, France, Hungary, and Italy. Combined/Joint training exercises have involved units from Britain’sTASAS, France's13e RDP, Belgium'sESR, Italy's9th Parachute Assault Regiment, and Germany'sFSLK200.
The International Special Training Center (ISTC) trains NATO Special Operations Forces (SOFs) and similar units in advanced individual patrolling, battlefield medicine, close quarter battle (CQB), sniper, survival, planning, and recognition skills. Established in 1979, ISTC was originally named the International Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol School (ILRRPS), and was formerly located inWeingarten, Germany before later moving toPfullendorf, Germany.